Towing device for use in the surf

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for towing surfers out into a body of water. The device includes an anchor in the body of water and a buoyant member connected thereto carrying a pulley adjacent the surface of the water. An endless flexible line is reeved about the pulley and has two runs extending from the buoyant member to a location adjacent the shore. The flexible line is wrapped about a windlass or capstan which is driven in a manner to move one of the runs in a direction away from the shore and toward the anchor. A plurality of drop lines are connected to the endless line which may be grasped by the surfer who is thereupon towed from the shore into the body of water.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for towing individuals from adjacent a shore out into an adjacent body of water, comprising an anchor in the body of water;   a buoyant member connected to the anchor having a pulley thereon adjacent the surface of the water;   an endless flexible line reeved about the pulley and having two runs extending from the buoyant member to a location adjacent the shore;   means for endlessly moving the flexible line to drive one of the runs in a direction away from the location; and   means operable from adjacent the shore for moving the buoyant member, pulley and flexible line from adjacent the anchor to adjacent the shore, the buoyant member moving means comprising first means carried by the anchor, a second endless line extending from adjacent the shore and reeved in the first means, and means adjacent the shore for anchoring the second line.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the endless line includes a plurality of drop lines having one end connected to the endless line and a free end which may be grasped by an individual. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the moving means comprises a capstan and means for rotating the capstan, the endless line being wrapped about the capstan. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the buoyant member comprises a cross piece, the first mentioned pulley being connected to the cross piece adjacent one end thereof, the buoyant member comprising a second pulley connected to the cross piece adjacent the other end thereof, the endless line being reeved over the first and second pulleys. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second endless line does not float. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first mentioned endless line is floatable. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the runs extend from the cross piece to the capstan, the pulleys being spaced apart sufficiently to diverge the runs toward the cross piece.